THE ALBICELESTE Vence 1-2 to Ivory Coast

Messi, key in the premiere of Argentina

Minutes after the announcement that Barcelona will allow Lionel Messi stay in China to play JJOO, the Argentine striker gave the victory to his country's Olympic selection, with both himself and a scoring pass that put his team in front in the run-up.

The duel between the two strongest in Group A was hard from the start for the combined albiceleste, who in the first minute and took a shock when Gervinho was planted on the goal line, but fortunately for the Argentines cleared Young.

Following the warning, Argentina took him to find the pulse and the clash took a vibrant pace since the early moments, when Messi, in 6 minutes, put a ball at the feet of 'Kun' Agüero within the area, which ended not in Angban goal because the goalkeeper cleared with fists powerful shot from the front of athletes in Madrid.

Despite the pace, counterattacks and physical forcefulness of Africans, the ball and playing opportunities were increasingly Argentine boots. The Ivorians did a very open game, retreated into defence and gamble on the quick counterattacks to reach door, but its holes were well exploited by the Argentines, who took care of the ball possession and lights his good touch, with long, accurate passes .

Thus Argentina was creating several occasions, including a shot of 'Kun' on the edge of the area, to pass Messi, who came out (min. 27) and a pass since the end of the banda,'s own Agüero to Lavezzi, the Number 9 is not reached by just a meter in the network with the tip of the foot (min. 32).

However, the Argentine did not stop pushing, and in 43 minutes, Messi received a long pass from Riquelme in depth that left him just before the Ivorian goalkeeper in the area, without the defense Diarrassouba could reach it. The club is not what he thought, and with a gentle touch sent the ball to fund the network premiered the Argentine accountant.

However, the advantage argentina changed in the second half, and an impeccable air pass from the edge of the area, the Ivorian Cissé (Roda Kerkrade, Netherlands) reached 1-1 by overcoming a high Zabaleta and placed the ball for a header where the goalkeeper could not reach Ustari (min. 53).

The opportunities were multiplying on both sides, and after a goal annulled for offside by Agüero (min. 65), there were several opportunities Gervinho, Bagayoko and Di Maria, until Messi Cole was in the area to launch an orange ball that cleared Angban.

However, his clearance went to the foot of newly entered the field Acosta, who scored the 2-1 (min. 85), while Messi held embracing, among others, Riquelme, and the party that ruled for Argentina put at the top of Group A in the preliminary round.--elmundo--